Jesús Adán Quintó was one of the leaders in the fight for the land rights of the black communities in the Middle and Lower Atrato River area, a member of the departmental human rights desk and human rights secretary of the Choco branch of the CGT. Despite the known threats against Jesús Adán, the National Protection Unit (UNP) had reduced the protection measures put in place for him.
The CGT had, on several occasions, requested that the body re-establish these measures, but received no response. The community and trade union leader was murdered on 9 April 2014 in the municipality of Turbo in the Urabá region of Antioquia.
In an interview given days before his death, Jesús Adán Quinto said that he felt threatened and feared for his safety, having already faced several attempts on his life. He also made serious accusations related to the drug trafficking operations in the Urabá region.